The bottom line
• Reduction of 5% of defective customers may result in 80% increase in profitability (Reichheld & Sasser, 1990)

2.

• 60% to 80% of lost customers were satisfied (King, 1996) • 90% of customers who love a company will repeat but only 30% of customers who like the company will repeat (Opinion Research Corp.) • 20-40% of your customers bring 80% of your profits

What is a Loyal Customer
• Definition: customers with a long record of purchases from a preferred provider caused by their psychological and emotional bond with that provider • Are there various types of loyalty?

Differentiated Strategy to Loyalty Segments
“Not all customers were created equal”
• High loyals – most profitable, make them feel like family (20% of your customers) • Latent loyals – find out why they can’t come more often, find other ways they can help, don’t discount • Spurious loyals – come but don’t care, make them connect with you, make them wish for special treatment • Low loyals – don’t get distracted with them, but make sure they are satisfied (approx. 40-60% of your customers)

3.

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4.

How to foster loyal relationships
• Current loyalty programs
– Ineffective in creating a bond – Most are simply frequency programs – Make people shop around and look for deals – Make customers price sensitive – Erode profits We can identify loyal customers but we don’t know how to generate customer loyalty

Make sure that your special customers receive special treatment Send cards for birthdays rather than just for the holidays Make them feel unique (use name, compliment them for helping) Educate them about front and back stage

Receive – from customers
• • • • Give them opportunities to get to know you (your staff) Help them become advocates of your company (merchandize, web) Seek their opinion Allow them to commit to you with a long term program

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B.C. Brand Communities

4. BC

• Definition: group of individuals united through the consumption of your products
– Harley-Davidson’s “HOGs” – Club Med’s “Gracious Members”

• Characteristics
– – – Communality – help and expect help from others Brandfests are used to share history Keep consuming to stay connected

4. BC

Building a Community
Community
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Use a newsletter to share news about customers Develop an online forum for customers to stay in touch Organize annual events “by invitation” for VIP customers Facilitate picture / story sharing Help customers help each other Give a name to the community …

2. Design a relationship-building service culture
– – – Identify what type of treatment promotes customer loyalty Identify what loyal customers want to give to you Identify potential for the development of a brand community

3. Implement a loyalty treatment
– – – – Design specific communication strategy and message Train staff to understand the importance and the process Create opportunities to invest and receive investments Generate a sense of community among your customers

4.

Measure effects of program and redesign
– – Maintain constant communication with your loyal customers Monitor costs and results of your program